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Redshift Kitchen Sink bar throws in every hand position w/ big flare, rise, a loop & Cruise Control grips

Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar for gravel & adventure bikepacking bar, top view
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We actually previewed a prototype of the Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar more than a year ago, with its unique ergonomic Cruise Control drop bar grips. But now they are real, and ready to bring all the comfortable hand positions to your adventure bike, as is a new shorter version of their excellent ShockStop suspension stem to bring off-road comfort to more riders…

Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar for gravel & adventure bikepacking

Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar for gravel & adventure bikepacking, loop bar shape
images c. Redshift

Redshift says their Kitchen Sink handlebar was designed for the gravel & adventure bikepacking rider that wanted a little bit of everything in their bar. You get big widths, big flare, a good bit of ride, some back sweep, and even an optional loop. Each of those attributes has already been offered in other gravel bike drop bars, but the Kitchen Sink throws it all in together… and at an affordable price.

Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar for gravel & adventure bikepacking bar geometry shape and sizing

The Kitchen Sink’s 25° flare to its compact bend drops gives a stable hand position for mixed surface riding. The mountain bike-like 20mm of rise reduces pressure on the hands getting you up into a more comfortable, more upright position without having to change your stem. And 7° of back sweep to the tops effectively shortens overall bar reach and brings your hands back when you sit up on the tops. Then lastly, you get to add on (or ignore) an optional 150mm long loop out front for support & extra hand positions in a stretched out aero TT-style position, which then doubles as support for front mounted bar bags.

Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar for gravel & adventure bikepacking, standard bar shape

The 6061-T6 aluminum bars are available in three wide widths 44, 47 & 50cm measured center-to-center at the hoods (and much wider of 55, 58 & 61cm respectively, measured c-c at the drops due to the wide flare.) The standard versions (without a front loop) sell for $100 and weigh 360, 370 & 380g, respectively. The Loop version sells for $120, with claimed weights of 455, 465 & 475g, respectively. The loop bar especially will require extra-long bar tape for a full wrap, which Redshift also sells for $40 in a couple of color options.

Redshift Kitchen Sink handlebar for gravel & adventure bikepacking bar front view

We had a preview of the bar last year as a prototype, but now it is ready for the primetime and for your gravel adventure bikepacking setup. Redshift Kitchen Sink bars are in production now and available for pre-order, with deliveries slated for December 2020.

Redshift Cruise Control Grips, first dedicated ergo grips for drop bars

Redshift Cruise Control Grips, first dedicated ergo grips for drop bars installed side view

The first thing to realize about Redshift’s new ergonomic Cruise Control Grip System is that it isn’t just limited to the ends of your bars. They call the setup “The first dedicated grip system for drop bars” and it goes beyond simply putting an MTB-style pair of ergo grips on the ends of the drops, by also adding a flexible set of grips for the tops too.

Redshift Cruise Control Grips, first dedicated ergo grips for drop bars grip set

The $50 set includes a set of Kraton rubber Top Grips & Drop Grips with ergonomic shaping to support your hands across a wider area of your road & gravel bars, supporting the pads of your hand and filtering out road buzz. Much like more expensive carbon dropbars add more shaping to the bar tops, the Cruise Control Grips improve the comfort of any standard road alloy or carbon bar, at a fraction of the cost.

Redshift Cruise Control Grips, first dedicated ergo grips for drop bars without bar tape

The Top Grips (94g per pair) are lower profile & designed to get over-wrapped by your bar tape, with cut marks to trim them to fit for the perfect transition depending on your bar width & taper of the clamping area. Then, the Drop Grips (144g/pair) go over the end of your bar and fold over the end of your tape, allowing you to fine-tune their angle with a lock-on style end clamp.

Redshift Cruise Control Grips, first dedicated ergo grips for drop bars with bar tape

Cruise Control grips are available for pre-order now, with deliveries also expected in December. A full set of four individual grips sells for $50, or get a pair of Top Grips individually for $25, or Drop Grips set on their own for $35.

Redshift ShockStop stem now in shorter 80mm version

Redshift ShockStop stem now in shorter 80mm version

As for the update to the ShockStop stem, it’s simply a case of Redshift adding a fifth smaller size for riders with shorter cockpit needs. Now available in an 80mm long, +/-6° version with 31.8mm bar clamp for the same $150 price, you still get up to 20mm of effective suspension travel at the bar. By tailoring the combination of the included 5 elastomers of varying hardness, riders can tune the movement of the stem to their individual weight and riding style, so you take the edge of the bumps without ever feeling like the bar is bouncing up and down. To be honest, after suspension stems of the 90s I was skeptical. But the ShockStop delivers.

After riding one for myself for a week on a test bike earlier this spring, I can see why Tyler kept in on his own bike long after the review he wrote a few years back.

RedshiftSports.com

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thehill952
thehill952
4 years ago

could you do a bit of proofing on this, only a fraction of the way through and at least two errors

Greg
Greg
4 years ago
Reply to  thehill952

“Pare for coarse” here

patrick
patrick
4 years ago

I was a total convert to their stem on my gravel bike. Even utilizing ~30 psi in 42 mm tires, my upper body sure got beat up until that stem. 80 mm might be close enough to try on my rigid fat bike…

Andrew
Andrew
4 years ago

(deleted)

Joenomad
Joenomad
4 years ago

I have a Redshift stem on my road bike and it does a good job of reducing the chatter at the handlebars and doesn’t look obvious like the old Girvin flex stem. I will probably order the Cruise Control for added comfort.

bikebudha01
4 years ago

Sigh, close but no cigar. Most of the gravel riding I do is on very backwoods forest service ‘roads’. In that they vary from ancient broken asphalt, to gravel, to rutted dirt. And some of the descents are 45 minutes to an hour and half long. Which means braking via road hoods is the absolute worst. Am ‘this close’ to putting a flat bar on my gravel bike, just to handle these longer descents. I currently have ‘cross center’ brakes, which ‘almost work’. At lower speeds, just fine, but for faster descents it is just too sketchy to have your hands centered on the handlebars. Thus the desire for a flat bar. Would love to see someone figure a way to get a set of brakes way to the outside on a set of road handlebars. So you’d have the comfort and feel of road bars on the pavement, flats, etc. But when the down turns long and sketchy, you could actually brake/control the bike without cramping your hands on standard road hood brakes…

jednobiegowiec
jednobiegowiec
4 years ago

Nice try, but 110mm drop is much too much to control levers from the drops on the more demanding sections.
Will stay with Ritchey Beacon for the time being, as their 80mm drop makes much more sense. Shame it is only 460mm wide.
Work on that Redshift please 🙂
Cheers!
I.

satanas
satanas
4 years ago

The Top Grips should be useful if they fit normal 23.8mm diameter bars; dunno about the Drop Grips. The 80mm stem will help some with fit; they work really well, without being ugly or heavy. I’m not convinced about riser drop bars, and they sometimes make fitting things like bags or top mount brake levers impossible. 🙁

nooner
nooner
4 years ago

I’ve been riding/racing on flared drop bars for decades now, prolly had a dozen or so different bars of this variety. What i HATE/loathe is the WACK angle they put your shift levers at, hate it!
Very interested in trying out these 3T bars: https://us.3t.bike/en/products/dropbars/aeroghiaia-716.html
Added bonus, 3T is a supporter of Bike Rumor!
(Too bad they only make a max width of 44cm, seems pretty old school )

typevertigo
typevertigo
4 years ago

I’m a fan of the ShockStop stem, and availability of an 80 mm version is nothing but good news. I run a 90 mm myself.

R bren
R bren
4 years ago

SMH I changed my bars too soon. The rubber grips are looking good IMHO when it comes to the road chatter I deal with on my commute.

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